HOUGHTON, Mich. (WZMQ) – Two people from Ohio are facing charges for credit card theft that affected people across the Midwest, including in the Upper Peninsula.
On Nov. 7, the Houghton Police Department received a report of two suspicious people purchasing lottery tickets and high-end alcohol from a business in Houghton. Police got a description of the vehicle, which was eventually stopped in Iron River by a Michigan State Police trooper from the Iron Mountain Post.
Twenty-eight-year-old Shiym Edwards and 25-year-old Destiny Johnson, both of Akron, Ohio, were arrested. Edwards is charged with felony “illegal sale/use of a financial transaction device” and “habitual offender, fourth notice,” also a felony. Johnson is charged with felony “illegal sale/use of a financial transaction device” and “habitual offender, second notice,” also a felony.
Edwards was wanted on similar charges out of Midland, Mich. involving stolen credit cards being used to purchase lottery tickets. Johnson was also wanted on similar charges in Wright County, Minn. An investigation found that a larger scale operation is taking place out of Akron involving several people using stolen credit cards to purchase lottery tickets in several states.
The Houghton Police Department received a similar complaint about stolen credit cards in March 2024. On Saturday, Nov. 23, Baraga County also reported an incident of two suspicious men wearing M95 masks purchasing a large amount of lottery tickets. The Ishpeming, Marquette, and Munising areas have all reported similar incidents.
Edwards and Johnson were both arraigned on Nov. 13 and are currently lodged in the Houghton County Jail. Edwards is held on a $50,000 cash or surety bond. Johnson is held on a $25,000 cash or surety bond. Both are due back in court on Dec. 2 for a preliminary exam hearing.
“Anyone with information about similar incidents is asked to contact their local law enforcement authority. If anyone can obtain information on the identity of the individuals or are able to get a license plate number from the suspect vehicle it would be extremely helpful. We are asking for businesses that sell lottery tickets to ask for identification when people use credit cards to make their purchase, especially in large amounts. Also, be aware of people that attempt to enter credit card information manually into the stores’ point of sale when making these types of purchases,” the Houghton Police Department wrote in a statement.
This case remains under investigation.
